---
title: "Scheduling Software Updates for Servers"
canonical: "https://docs.infoblox.com/space/BloxOneInfrastructure/184583758/Scheduling%20Software%20Updates%20for%20Servers"
format: markdown
---
Infoblox provides automatic software updates when they become available. Updates are applied to all NIOS-X servers, physical or virtual. However, you can override and reschedule the automatic software updates. You can also defer the updates to a later date and time. You can also schedule or defer multiple software updates for different days and times. You can configure up to a total of 50 scheduled and deferred software updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different NIOS-X servers when you create applicable tags. Deferred updating per individual NIOS-X server is unavailable except when the server is associated with a tag. Tags can be used to associate scheduled updates with a specific server. 

> ⚠️ ### Important Notes
> ⚠️ 
> ⚠️ - You cannot schedule or defer software updates if there are no NIOS-X servers configured in your environment. Software updates are automatically applied to the environment without the possibility of deferral.
> ⚠️ - Servers that have not been upgraded in the past four weeks will be automatically upgraded, regardless of any defined scheduled or deferral windows.

# Scheduling Software Updates

When manually scheduling software updates rather than having software updates applied automatically, any software update will take place only at the time and date specified and will only occur within the time window specified. When scheduling software updates for NIOS-X servers, the software update applies to all servers residing within the account for a customer-specified duration. The only exception to this policy is when a tag is associated with a specific NIOS-X server or servers. Using tags to associate a specific server or servers, custom updates, and deferrals can be applied to all servers associated with the tag.

To manually schedule software updates, complete the following: 

1. From the Infoblox Portal, click **Network > Services & Servers > Servers**.
2. Select the NIOS-X server on which you want to schedule a software update.
3. Click the ellipses icon (...) > **Schedule Software Updates**.
4. On the **Schedule Software Updates** page, perform the following:
5. **Schedule Updates**:
  - **Schedule Name**: Enter a unique name to identify the software update schedule.
  - **Type**: Select the type of schedule from the drop-down.
    - **Run immediately**: Select this option to apply the software updates immediately.
    - **Run on specific day: **Select this option to apply the software updates on a specific day.
      - **Day & Time**: Select a day of the week and a time to perform the scheduled updates. Note that the time is based on the server’s timezone. If no timezone is set, UTC is used by default server. All updates will occur on the day and time specified.
      - **Duration**: Select the duration period for performing software management updates. The duration can range from 4 to 10 hours, and during this time window, the updates will be applied. If the updates fall outside the duration period, they will not be applied.
    - **Run with existing schedule**: Select this option to apply software updates after an existing schedule completes, using a defined delay (hours or days). To use this option, you must first create a scheduled update using **Run on specific day**.  
This option enables software updates to be applied in a chained sequence (for example, A → B → C), where each group starts after the previous group completes with a defined delay. You can chain up to 12 groups, and the total delay across all groups can be up to 28 days.
      - **Duration**: Select the duration period for performing software management updates. The duration can range from 4 to 10 hours, and during this time window, the updates will be applied. If the updates fall outside the duration period, they will not be applied.
      - **Delay**: Enter the delay time (min 4 hours, max 3 days) and select either **Hour** or **Day**.
      - **after**: Select the existing schedule from the drop-down. After selecting the existing schedule from the drop-down, the updated start and end day/time will be displayed based on the selected schedule.
        - For example, you can schedule **Group A **(lab environment) to run on a specific day. Then, schedule **Group B **(stage environment) to run after Group A completes, with a delay of several hours or days. Finally, schedule **Group C** (production environment) to run after Group B completes, again with a defined delay. This approach ensures updates roll out in a controlled, chained sequence.
    - By default, the **Update servers one at a time **option is enabled. This option applies software updates sequentially within the scheduled update window. Updates are applied to one server at a time, and the order is randomized for each update cycle. The update for the subsequent server begins only after the previous server has been updated successfully.
  - **Choose server by tags**: You can use tags to associate the scheduled updates with specific servers. For example, you can create a tag called "deferred update group" and enter a value of "DFP" to remind yourself that this tag can be used to defer software updates for the server running the DNS forwarding service. When you assign this tag to applicable servers, you have created a software update group with servers that will get the deferred software updates. Note that the scheduled updates apply only to servers that have the matching tag you created for the scheduled updates. For more information about tags, see *[Managing Tags](https://infoblox-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BloxOneCloud/pages/35397076)*.
  - **View Scheduled Servers**: Click the **View Scheduled Servers** button to view a list of servers that will be scheduled for updates based on the associated tags. If no tags are specified, the entire list of servers is displayed.
6. Optionally, to schedule multiple software updates, click **Add Schedule** to configure another scheduled software update. You can configure up to 50 scheduled and deferred updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different NIOS-X servers when you create  applicable tags. You can also perform the following before saving your configuration:
  - Remove a scheduled update that is no longer applicable by clicking **Delete** for the selected scheduled update.
  - View details of a scheduled update by clicking the down arrow key of the selected scheduled update.
7. Click **Save & Close** to save your scheduled software updates configuration.

You can add or delete any scheduled updates that are not applicable any more. 

# Configuring Blackout Window for Software Updates

Software management updates can be deferred up to four weeks. Using this feature, the updates for all NIOS-X servers residing in the account will be deferred for the period specified. The software updates will not be applied during the period specified. The deferral window can be disabled at any time. Deferred updating per individual NIOS-X server is unavailable except when the server or servers are associated with a tag. Deferral supersedes the Automatic and Scheduled Updates settings. 

To defer software management updates, complete the following:

1. From the Infoblox Portal, click **Network > Services & Servers > Servers**.
2. Select the NIOS-X server on which you want to schedule a software update.
3. Click the ellipses icon (**...**) > **Schedule Software Updates**.
4. On the **Schedule Software Updates** page, perform the following:
5. **Blackout Window**:

- **Disabled/enabled switch**: Toggle the Disabled/Enabled switch to the enabled position to enable update deferrals. Update deferments can be delayed for up to four weeks. Once this deferment period has expired, the latest update will be applied.
- **Start/End calendar object**: Select a start date and an end date for the update deferral. The deferral time is based on your account and takes place in the server’s timezone. When updates have been successfully deferred, you will see a small icon appear to the right of the calendar object indicating update deferral status.
- **Choose server by tags**: You can use tags to associate the deferred updates with specific servers. For example, you can create a tag called "deferred update group" and enter a value of "DFP" to remind yourself that this tag can be used to defer software updates for the server running the DNS forwarding service. When you assign this tag to applicable servers, you have created a software update group with servers that will get the deferred software updates. Note that the deferred updates apply only to servers that have the matching tag you created for the deferred updates. For more information about tags, see *[Managing Tags](https://infoblox-docs.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/BloxOneCloud/pages/35397076)*.

Optionally, to defer multiple software updates, click **Add Schedule** to configure another deferred software update. You can configure up to 50 scheduled and deferred updates, which means you have the flexibility to create up to 50 update groups across different servers when you create applicable tags.  
You can also perform the following before saving your configuration:

- Remove a deferred update that is no longer applicable by clicking **Delete** for the selected update.
  - View details of a deferred update by clicking the down arrow key of the selected update.
- Click **Save & Close** to save your scheduled software updates configuration.
- Click **Confirm** on the prompt screen to complete the software update deferral process.

When visiting the **Schedule Software Updates** page after initially saving and closing the deferral configuration, the Infoblox Portal will display one of the following deferral statuses:

- **Scheduled**: The deferral date has been set up and the start date has not yet begun.
- **In Progress**: The deferral start date has begun and the deferral period is active.
- **Expired**: The deferral start and end date has expired and the updates are implemented according to the users preference of *Automatic* or *Scheduled*.

## **Applying Software Updates Immediately**

In addition to scheduling software updates, you can apply the latest updates on a server directly from the **Servers** page.

To apply software updates immediately, complete the following:

1. From the Infoblox Portal, click **Network > Services & Servers > Servers**.
2. Choose the server on which you want to perform software updates.
3. Click the ellipses icon (**...**) next to the server > **Apply software updates now > Confirm**. The software updates are applied to the selected server immediately, regardless of any scheduled maintenance or blackout windows.

> 📝 The **Apply software updates now** option is not applicable to servers that are in the **Pending** state.